Michel Trahan's Content

#11952 Why 'breadboard'?

Posted by Michel Trahan on 11 April 2011 - 01:36 PM in General Discussion

http://wiki.answers....name_breadboard CW2 You beat me to it

#11971 Which I2CBus implementation to use ?

Posted by Michel Trahan on 11 April 2011 - 10:55 PM in General Discussion

Hi There, I found many I2CBus implementation to use ... which one should I use ? Any reason why ? Is it planned to include such a class into the SecretLabs.NETMF.Hardware name space ? Should it be ? Here are some links to the implementation I found : http://forums.netdui...ndpost__p__4156 http://forums.netdui...ndpost__p__6090 Mike perplexed by all this

#12000 Which I2CBus implementation to use ?

Posted by Michel Trahan on 12 April 2011 - 12:46 PM in General Discussion

My wrapper implements the singleton pattern which allows for thread safe interaction with multiple devices on the bus.

Your implementation it is then ! Thanks for sharing !

#12430 Where to find information

Posted by Michel Trahan on 23 April 2011 - 12:40 PM in Netduino 2 (and Netduino 1)

perhaps we should create a larger "getting started" guide for the hardware itself?

That too

#12687 Website

Posted by Michel Trahan on 30 April 2011 - 12:45 PM in General Discussion

Featured project link on the front page takes you to the projects page, but the featured project is not listed.
Hardware link only shows the original netduino not the mini or plus

Welcome to the community

LOL, I use the specs page often and yes it is missing the mini and the PLUS specs (how many IO pins, which one are they, etc.) And the Projects page is a missnomer ... I agree that the Projects page should have a series of official projects with a link to the rest of the project showcase (and wiki).

But that goes to show that they are very busy with their HOT PRODUCTS !

You make a good point ! That is why some of us are working hard at doing more structured tutorials for newbies like me

Try to type keywords in the Forum search, you might get many things you are looking for.

#13470 VirtualBreadboard Emulator Support for Virtual Netduino

Posted by Michel Trahan on 20 May 2011 - 02:16 AM in Project Showcase

This looks cool, I'll have to get it and test it !

#11670 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 05 April 2011 - 02:24 AM in General Discussion

Haven't used it myself, so I have no idea if it will suit your needs but there's the free version of the Serna XML editor at http://www.syntext.c...cts/serna-free/

My Prefered tool for XML / XSD (Schema definition) is XML Spy but it is not given ... I'll buy (when budget permits) the professionnal version ... I used to do a lot of XSD and XML with it, very efficient.

#11598 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 02 April 2011 - 08:25 PM in General Discussion

Thinking of modifying the saving to file functionality to write xml file instead of an old coma seperated values (didn't find a way to read it and store it in variables yet ...). I prefer XML files ... anyone argue ? Anyone know of a XML Spy equivalent on the open source community ?

#11407 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 28 March 2011 - 09:50 PM in General Discussion

Small Update :

- The code was transfered to VB.Net like a charm
- Now trying to translate to C# (Full .Net first, then .Net MF ... but with the N+ since there is file access)

Question : how do we write/read files in C# ?

Here is the code using the Microsoft.VisualBasic assembly that I want to remove the dependency ... to write the Nodes and Links to files and loading them from files

filenum = FileSystem.FreeFile();
FileSystem.FileOpen(filenum, s, OpenMode.Input, OpenAccess.Read, OpenShare.LockWrite, -1);
FileSystem.Input(filenum, ref k);
FileSystem.FileClose(filenum);

int filenum = FileSystem.FreeFile();
FileSystem.FileOpen(filenum, s, OpenMode.Output, OpenAccess.Write, OpenShare.LockReadWrite, -1);
// Write the number of nodes and links.
FileSystem.WriteLine(filenum, bGraphicalInfoAttached, iNumNodes, iNumLinks);
FileSystem.WriteLine(filenum, Nodes[i].Name, Nodes[i].FirstLink, 0, 0);

And I have to verify why I am using this ...

s = Strings.Left(s, s.Length - 2);

And this ...

Conversion.ErrorToString()

I Think I can replace the last one with a catch (Exception e) in a try catch and using e.Message ... I am right ?

Keep you posted.

#11788 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 08 April 2011 - 01:40 AM in General Discussion

Wanted to give you a peak at an XML Schema for the Forward Star Network file representation but I can't upload an XSD file ... why ? (Tried XPS too to no avail ...) In the XSD file I separated the graphical info from the rest since if it only run in code, no graphical information is attached (only used when designing the directed network through a specialised editor). I ask for comments from those interested. How do I show this type of file here ? XSD, or XPS Here is a look at what a file would look like ...

Attached Files

FSNetworkTest20110406.xml 4.38KB 0 downloads

#11354 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 27 March 2011 - 01:48 AM in General Discussion

- make sure you develop the code in a .NETMF (Netduino) project and not a regular .NET project.

Don't worry, I also program for the windows phone 7 in silverlight (vb and c#) and I always get confused LOL

I tested my old vb program and it works like a charm ... 1995 code ! wow !

I tried to convert using Artinsoft Visual Basic Upgrade Companion (free for msdn member) but only the c# translation worked ... so I'm ok for the netduino

I have to test the class a bit before posting the code

Keep you posted ... now is time to get out and play pool !

#11415 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 29 March 2011 - 03:06 AM in General Discussion

The only word of warning would be that the read buffer in the above code could overflow on a platform with limited memory such as the Netduino. The code really needs to check the file size before allocating the buffer and then chunk the data if necessary.

Thanks ! I'll check that in april ... work load too heavy but wow ! Thanks !

And I am right in assuming that the FLASH memory access is automatic ? or do we need to do some special access to read/write to it ?

Mike away from the computer for the next few days ...

#11300 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 26 March 2011 - 04:15 AM in General Discussion

As anyone thought of using the Forward Star data structure and algorithm (to find the shortest path) for autonomous robots ? I have implemented a VB version many years ago (1995) and I could rewrite it for C# to use in autonomous robots ... Everything in .Net MF ... any interest in such an algorithm ? very very efficient data structure (minimalistic, one node per node and one link per link, no wasted structure) and it is a very very fast algorithm. Example of usage : in a defined environment resembling a network of connecting nodes, allow a robot to find the fastest way to get there (emergency, security (using cameras on a quadcopter), etc). You can recalculate new paths when encountering closed paths ... could probably be used to repath power just like in Terminator movie lol Mike discovering quadcopters and netduino ! p.s.: I'll also work on a Kalman Filter using a complete set of sensor data as well as user commands. Everything in .Net MF

#11741 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 06 April 2011 - 09:17 PM in General Discussion

There will be 6 versions - one main class with no file access - one with one type of file access (suggestions on csv or else?) - one with xml files (defining my own schema for it ... suggestions ? I'll post it here when defined OK ?) In two programming languages VB.net and C# The VB.net version with XML access is for my needs and will take priority. Any takers for that version ? Who wants to have a C# version ? With file acces or not ? If so, which one, XML (might not be appropriate for .net mf) ? Mike.

#11320 Using Forward Star structure and algorithm in autonomous robots

Posted by Michel Trahan on 26 March 2011 - 01:14 PM in General Discussion

I'd be interested in the code as well.

I just started to learn .Net (I know so many languages ... and yeah, I know, late learning) so give me time.

My project is to build a complete quadcopter from scratch and include in it the Kalman filter (KF). Once done, I'll work on it being autonomous ... and add the Forward Star (FS) data structure and the label setting shortest path algorithm.

If someone already has an autonomous quadcopter (or anything autonomous that would need such a fonctionnality) and would like to add the FS data structure, please contact me and I'll rewrite it sooner. If only newbies like me, then I'll take the time to learn first

If I wait long enough, we probably could have it in VB.Net on .Net MF lol (I'm a VB fanatic, so easy to program) but I'll try it in C# ...

Mike surprised about your fast reply !

#12461 Unstable USB connector

Posted by Michel Trahan on 24 April 2011 - 01:26 PM in Netduino Plus 2 (and Netduino Plus 1)

By the way, I have a netduino (normal one) and I am not gentle with my material (I throw the breadboard with the netduino connected to everything on the table with all my stuff (books, paper and all) all the time ... and never got it broken off nor disconnected. Mine is Mike proof

So consider yourself not lucky because it works great for me

#12203 Tricorder using 4d systems oled

Posted by Michel Trahan on 18 April 2011 - 12:02 PM in Project Showcase

P.S. Lieutenant Commander Data just noticed a typo ...

LOL

#12124 TMP36 Temperature Sensor/SB Protoshield

Posted by Michel Trahan on 15 April 2011 - 02:31 PM in Netduino 2 (and Netduino 1)

I had similar reading with my scope ... until I grounded it ... just a thought, I know nothing in electronics, learning as I read about it here and there !

#13313 Time conversion between MF and Full .Net

Posted by Michel Trahan on 15 May 2011 - 05:42 PM in General Discussion

Are the 2 ticks per second the same ? I think not ... just a thought !

#12011 Threads VS Timers

Posted by Michel Trahan on 12 April 2011 - 01:23 PM in Netduino Plus 2 (and Netduino Plus 1)

See this tutorial for details

We have to work on a tutorial section ! Thanks for sharing this one !

#12004 Threads VS Timers

Posted by Michel Trahan on 12 April 2011 - 01:00 PM in Netduino Plus 2 (and Netduino Plus 1)

I read somewhere that the Times are not to be trusted ... not precise ... And a thread for each input ... isn't that an overkill ? Comments by a real newby ...

#12370 Sweet deal for capacitive touch interface

Posted by Michel Trahan on 21 April 2011 - 08:37 PM in General Discussion

Bought one ! Thanks !

#12465 Speaker class and Netduino Keyboard

Posted by Michel Trahan on 24 April 2011 - 02:51 PM in Project Showcase

You have cool friends

#13312 Solution deploy failures for VM users

Posted by Michel Trahan on 15 May 2011 - 05:41 PM in General Discussion

Have you tried this technique to reset ?

#12508 Slightly off topic - HID device to Windows

Posted by Michel Trahan on 26 April 2011 - 07:00 PM in General Discussion

Do I understand this correctly, it would allow a PC Software to communicate with sensors connected to the netduino using the usb cable ? Like showing the results of the accel, gyro, compas on the computer screen ? Is something missing on the netduino to do what I just described ? This would be a great tool to work with